Constructive criticism needed
Discussion
Ok chaps, my car has been in the classifieds for about a month, and I can count the calls I have had on one hand:
www.pistonheads.com/sales/81714.htm
What am I doing wrong ? I'm guessing you're all going to say price, but unlike some owners, I'm not prepared to give it away. I paid £4,500 for her a year ago, and have spent £2,000 in that time. Surely it has to be worth what I paid for it ? It is a good car, with low miles, looks good, only 2 owners, and above all, is mechanically sound, with an immaculate chassis.
Help
www.pistonheads.com/sales/81714.htm
What am I doing wrong ? I'm guessing you're all going to say price, but unlike some owners, I'm not prepared to give it away. I paid £4,500 for her a year ago, and have spent £2,000 in that time. Surely it has to be worth what I paid for it ? It is a good car, with low miles, looks good, only 2 owners, and above all, is mechanically sound, with an immaculate chassis.
Help
Hi Tom,
Well....first and foremost it's obviously a decent example....things are a bit slow at the moment sales wise as you can see from other posts.
First thing I would do is to take some better pictures. The ones you have are nice, and Mrs Tom nice too, however, outside kwik fit isn't the best for sales phots.
Get some interior photo's, and some of underneath and I think things will start moving a bit.
Onto price, it's the old adage, of a car is only worth what someone will pay. I bought an immaculate 390se with virtually full tvrsh for a lot less than yours, however, I was very lucky. I think yours isn't too high, and with the right pictures it should sell, it's obviously been looked after so 4.5k isn't over the top at all. It's daft really, what else could you buy with a 3.5v8, open top, full history, solid underneath for that money. It would mince most things and yet people tend to be a bit reticent.
Wedges are funny things, people either love them or hate them, all you need is someone that wants a tidy one, and you will have a buyer.
Saying that, I went to the wedgefest yesterday, what a bunch, do you REALLY have to sell it??
Regards,
Mike.
Well....first and foremost it's obviously a decent example....things are a bit slow at the moment sales wise as you can see from other posts.
First thing I would do is to take some better pictures. The ones you have are nice, and Mrs Tom nice too, however, outside kwik fit isn't the best for sales phots.
Get some interior photo's, and some of underneath and I think things will start moving a bit.
Onto price, it's the old adage, of a car is only worth what someone will pay. I bought an immaculate 390se with virtually full tvrsh for a lot less than yours, however, I was very lucky. I think yours isn't too high, and with the right pictures it should sell, it's obviously been looked after so 4.5k isn't over the top at all. It's daft really, what else could you buy with a 3.5v8, open top, full history, solid underneath for that money. It would mince most things and yet people tend to be a bit reticent.
Wedges are funny things, people either love them or hate them, all you need is someone that wants a tidy one, and you will have a buyer.
Saying that, I went to the wedgefest yesterday, what a bunch, do you REALLY have to sell it??
Regards,
Mike.
Include girlfriend?
Seriously, I don't know. Personally, I don't think the price is excessive.
What doesn't help is some people don't mind giving their wedges away for stupid money AND some wedges sell for as little as £3k due to condition. Perspective buyers see this and straight away think the going rate to pay is £3k.
Personally, unless you were desperate to sell, I would hold on and wait until the right buyer comes along.
There is always Autotrader (which has some very expensive wedges advertised, making yours look a bargain) or Ebay which you could set your reserve of £4.5k.
I too have mine in the pistonheads classifieds (The red 350i / 450i conversion). All I have had is email contact from overseas buyers, a lot of which sould like car scams.
All you can do is wait and a buyer will come along eventually.
Seriously, I don't know. Personally, I don't think the price is excessive.
What doesn't help is some people don't mind giving their wedges away for stupid money AND some wedges sell for as little as £3k due to condition. Perspective buyers see this and straight away think the going rate to pay is £3k.
Personally, unless you were desperate to sell, I would hold on and wait until the right buyer comes along.
There is always Autotrader (which has some very expensive wedges advertised, making yours look a bargain) or Ebay which you could set your reserve of £4.5k.
I too have mine in the pistonheads classifieds (The red 350i / 450i conversion). All I have had is email contact from overseas buyers, a lot of which sould like car scams.
All you can do is wait and a buyer will come along eventually.
Keep patient, maximise your description and photos and hope the right customer comes along. Mines on classifieds at moment, but I've also put it in autotrader as not everyone has heard about PH lets face it.
I had someone look at mine last weekend and he liked it but on prices the first thing he said was that theres one on PH for £3700 so thats my starting price.....At that point sales discussions ended!
I had someone look at mine last weekend and he liked it but on prices the first thing he said was that theres one on PH for £3700 so thats my starting price.....At that point sales discussions ended!
Edited by Planman350i on Sunday 16th July 17:44
I agree with what was said about the pics and would also suggest doing them on a nice sunny day. The one point I think is really worth picking up on is that not everyone's heard of Pistonheads, so your viewer potential is a bit limited. I've been mad on cars since I knew what one was and I only found PH just under a year ago! I sold an Elise recently and I put it on PH and Autotrader where it sat for six weeks with no buyer (just the usual scammers!). I thought the price was ok having checked all the other ads and asking a dealer for advice. In the end I bit the bullet, dropped the price and it sold inside a week. The buyer saw the car in the online Autotrader. Also, for what it's worth, I bought my wedge out of TVRCC mag, Sprint. It was never on PH! Good luck. I think it's well worth what you're asking. 
pictures, pictures, pictures with a good resolution...that will definately help. interior, engine-bay AND chassis ones!!!! the problem is people often are willing to pay 2500-3000 even for a basket-case and think they can invest "only" a few 100 pounds and some work to bring it in a good state...on the other side for me as a german the car isnt of interest cause it must be minimum 20 years old to drive it with a special(collectors) number-plate to save tax, here-- otherwise a 3.5 litre isnt financeable.
your price isnt a bargain, but not too expsensive.
i recently bought a 2.8 tasmin (i know-i know its "only" a 2.8), built 1982, for 2500,- with a unwelded chassis in nearly new condition (still completely powder-coated), interior and targa re-trimm, a tank full of fuel, a nearly new stainless exhaust, new shocks and coils, a boot full of spare parts,a ferry ticket for dover-calais and the car was delivered to stansted airport!!! this was all included in the sales price!!!
your price isnt a bargain, but not too expsensive.
i recently bought a 2.8 tasmin (i know-i know its "only" a 2.8), built 1982, for 2500,- with a unwelded chassis in nearly new condition (still completely powder-coated), interior and targa re-trimm, a tank full of fuel, a nearly new stainless exhaust, new shocks and coils, a boot full of spare parts,a ferry ticket for dover-calais and the car was delivered to stansted airport!!! this was all included in the sales price!!!
Edited by micha on Sunday 16th July 23:37
micha said:
the problem is people often are willing to pay 2500-3000 even for a basket-case and think they can invest "only" a few 100 pounds and some work to bring it in a good state
Edited by micha on Sunday 16th July 23:37
Too right. Unless you are good with spanner a cheap wedge with a 'few problems' is going to cost a shed load to bring into a good state if you are relying on specialists.
Edited by Planman350i on Monday 17th July 09:59
Edited by Planman350i on Monday 17th July 09:59
mikeb said:
Try not to take pics with the car parked outside of an accident repair centre would also be a good idea ;-)
MikeyB
MikeyB
Echo that Mike
Take some nice photos out in the country, or parked in the drive of some posh house is even better The photos will at least get a buyer to come and look at it.
Good Luck
Thank you all for your help and comments. I don't think Kwik fit actually do accident repairs, but I take the point, and will take some better photos.
As for lowering the price to £3,750, not a hope. This is not a basket case, it is a well looked after, low mileage, good example. The only things that require any attention are cosmetic.
Thanks again.
As for lowering the price to £3,750, not a hope. This is not a basket case, it is a well looked after, low mileage, good example. The only things that require any attention are cosmetic.
Thanks again.
I want to live in that house and I want to drive that car 
I had the same problem selling one last year, advertised for 3 months, only had 2 phone calls and 1 viewing. Or I could put a positive spin on it and say the first to see the car brought it. Exchange and mart proved good as, it was a fixed price until the car is sold. Flea bay was a total waste of time as was pistonheads. Hope you get lucky and don't find a buyer, that way you get to keep it. Buy a shed for transporting the sprog about.
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